"One sells cosmetics in Mongolia. The other teaches AI in Korea. They met on Zoom — and built a business bridge."
🌏 BNI Was Already Crossing Borders
If you think of BNI (Business Network International) as nothing more than an early-morning breakfast meeting, this article might change your mind.
In March 2025, Ha Jae-Ung, Director of Leverage Research Institute and a core member of BNI Korea's D100 Chapter, sat down on Zoom with Khaliun, a member of BNI Mongolia's Tegri Chapter. Different countries, different languages, different industries — and yet within minutes, their conversation had evolved into a concrete blueprint for collaboration.
Have you ever wondered, "Is BNI activity actually helping my business?" This one-to-one meeting is a living answer to that question.
👤 The Two People Behind This Meeting
Ha Jae-Ung — "The Man Who Connects AI to Real Business"
Ha Jae-Ung is the founder of Leverage Research Institute and a key member of BNI Korea's D100 Chapter. His background goes far beyond being just another "AI instructor."
- 5 academic degrees — the result of relentless multi-disciplinary study centered on business management
- 7 published books — including translations, co-authored, and solo works
- 21 countries visited — all through business travel alone
- Former KOICA volunteer — taught Korean in China for 2 years; field experience in Mongolia, the Philippines, and Malaysia
- Active AI Specialist at Korea's Cultural Heritage Administration, Gyeonggi Provincial Council, and Seoul Metropolitan Council
- Former Tanzania Chapter Director — conquered Kilimanjaro at 5,850m, a story that has become the stuff of legend
He delivers customized AI training — covering tools like ChatGPT and Claude — to corporations and public institutions, while simultaneously providing management strategy consulting. His philosophy is clear: "Don't just teach how to use it. Translate it into the organization's own language so they can actually put it to work."
His ultimate goal through BNI is to build a "global sales route on the scale of an airline network" — using AI to create and distribute content, and breaking language barriers to build a true Global Business Bridge.
Khaliun — "Seoul National University Graduate Who Conquered Mongolia's Beauty Market"
Khaliun is an approximately 1.5-year veteran member of BNI Mongolia's Tegri Chapter.
- B.A. in Business Administration, Seoul National University (2002–2006)
- After graduation, worked at the Korean Embassy in Mongolia (same building as KOICA)
- 6 years at Korean Air — gaining deep expertise in air logistics and international business networks
- 15 years in business — currently importing and selling approximately 600 Korean beauty products in Mongolia
- A comprehensive K-Beauty distribution specialist covering beauty supplies, color cosmetics, and skincare
- Currently serving as Mentoring Coordinator of the Tegri Chapter
From studying business at Seoul National University, to working at an embassy and Korean Air, to pioneering the K-Beauty market in Mongolia — the caliber of people you can meet through a BNI one-to-one already speaks volumes about the power of BNI itself.
💬 The Key Conversations from That Meeting
1. Breaking the Language Barrier with AI — A Live Demo
Khaliun opened with a question: "Can AI do simultaneous interpretation during a Zoom meeting?"
Ha Jae-Ung didn't just answer in words. He opened an AI tool on the spot and demonstrated real-time Korean-to-Mongolian translation right then and there. Full simultaneous interpretation is still costly, but he showed that near-real-time communication through AI translation is already well within reach.
"Within a year, the cost of simultaneous AI interpretation will drop dramatically. It's only a matter of time." — Ha Jae-Ung
2. The Current State of BNI Mongolia's Tegri Chapter
- Current membership: 33 (down from ~50 at this time last year)
- 22 women, 11 men — female members are the clear majority
- BNI Mongolia is rapidly expanding beyond the capital Ulaanbaatar (Tegri Chapter) into aimag-level (provincial) cities
- Key reasons for membership decline: difficulty adapting to early-morning meeting culture, expectations of short-term results
Khaliun was candid: "You need to stick with it consistently to see results, but many people drop out after just a few months." This is a pattern seen in Korean BNI chapters as well — a reminder that consistency is the ultimate competitive edge in BNI.
3. The Real Challenge in the Cosmetics Business — A Marketing War
Fifteen years ago in Mongolia, the key was simply "bringing good products." That's no longer the case.
"Competition has gotten fierce. Influencers are already locked into contracts. Marketing costs keep going up." — Khaliun
With the K-Beauty boom exploding across the Mongolian market, marketing has now replaced distribution as the core competitive battleground.
Ha Jae-Ung immediately proposed a solution: using AI-driven algorithm analysis to identify micro-influencers with growth potential who haven't yet been signed, and connecting them to Khaliun's marketing efforts — a concrete, actionable strategy discussed in real time.
🤝 So, What Did They Commit To?
This one-to-one didn't end with pleasantries. The two designed a clear set of next steps together.
① March 28 — Korea D100 × Mongolia Tegri Group Zoom Meeting
- 9:00 AM Korea time / 8:00 AM Mongolia time
- D100 Chapter power team of 6 + interested Tegri Chapter members
- Communication covered by AI translation + Khaliun's Korean language skills
- Ha Jae-Ung's 10-minute AI practical mini-lecture included
② June 1–2 — BNI Korea National Conference
- Khaliun's visit to Korea confirmed (flights already booked)
- Planning to bring Tegri Chapter members along
- Formal invitation to attend D100's Tuesday morning meeting (Seongsu-dong, near BNI Korea HQ)
- Ha Jae-Ung has offered to provide a personal pickup
③ Ongoing Zoom One-to-Ones + AI Education Sessions
- Zoom meetings to continue the following month
- Free AI practical training session for BNI Mongolia members currently in preparation
💡 What This One-to-One Means for Every BNI Member
This meeting carries a significance far beyond a simple "Korea-Mongolia exchange."
This is how BNI's true potential unfolds.
An AI consultant in Korea meets a K-Beauty distributor in Mongolia for a one-to-one. AI marketing analysis identifies the right Mongolian influencers. That connection bridges Korean beauty brands to new markets. The BNI network becomes not just a referral system, but a cross-border business ecosystem.
The first pillar of Ha Jae-Ung's dream — a Global Business Bridge — was laid in this very meeting.
"I'm certain that when you practice Givers Gain, good things will come back to you in abundance." — Ha Jae-Ung
"I should have come to the National Conference with a plan — who to meet, what to discuss. I left with so much potential untapped, and I regret it." — Khaliun
📌 A Message for Anyone Thinking About BNI
Whether you're already in BNI or considering joining, take a close look at what this one-to-one reveals.
- BNI is not just a local network — it can expand into a global referral ecosystem
- With AI tools, you can have substantive business conversations with overseas chapters without language barriers
- Building relationships through Zoom one-to-ones before a National Conference multiplies your results
- Inside the BNI network, synergy between entirely different industries can erupt from the most unexpected places
This article is based on the actual Zoom one-to-one meeting between Ha Jae-Ung, Director of BNI Korea's D100 Chapter (Leverage Research Institute), and Khaliun, a member of BNI Mongolia's Tegri Chapter.
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